The Keys and the Car
January 12
Read: ACTS 19:1-5
Have you ever seen those videos of a teenager opening a gift box with keys inside, and then realizing that a new car is waiting for them outside? Imagine if, upon receiving the keys, the teenager were to keep them and walk away. Of course, the keys have value. Who could drive the car without them? This would be a great loss though, for the greater gift of the car would never be realized.
In this text, the disciples learn that they have not received the full gift of God. John’s baptism of repentance was the first part of the gift, an outward sign of their commitment to live with a changed mindset. Here Paul reveals to the disciples that there is something greater: The gift of God fully realized in Jesus’s salvation, lived out through the Holy Spirit.
Thank you, God, for the gift of your salvation fully realized in Jesus. May I receive it daily through your Holy Spirit alive in me. AMEN.
About the Author
Meghan Bruggeman | I am a wife to Danny and a mom to my five-year-old son, Micah. I serve as associate pastor of spiritual formation at Renew Covenant Church in Carroll, Iowa. I also work as a hospice chaplain in my community. I have a certificate in spiritual direction from the John Weborg Center for Spiritual Direction at North Park Theological Seminary. I am an alum of North Park University and am originally from the Chicagoland area. I love God and the Church, and I am passionate about providing opportunities for people to connect with God and each other. I love music, and you can typically find me playing the drums, guitar, or singing in some capacity. Coffee is my love language and laughing is my favorite. I am honored to have this opportunity to pray and share with you this week.
